Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1 eBook

“’O son of the Kuru race, many times did
king Gaya perform sacrifices of this description,
here, by the side of this Brahmasara!’”

SECTION XCVI

Vaisampayana said, “After this the royal son
of Kunti who was ever distinguished for his profuse
gifts unto Brahmanas, proceeded to the asylum of Agastya
and took up his abode in Durjaya. It was here
that that foremost of speakers, king Yudhishthira
asked Lomasa as to why Agastya had slain Vatapi there.
And the king also enquired after the extent of that
man-destroying Daitya’s prowess, and the reason
also of the illustrious Agastya’s wrath being
excited against that Asura.

“Thus questioned, Lomasa said, ’O son
of Kuru race, there was in the city called Manimati,
in days of yore, a Daitya named Ilwala, whose younger
brother was Vatapi. One day that son of Diti addressed
the Brahmana endued with ascetic merit, saying, “O
holy one, grant me a son equal unto Indra.”
The Brahmana, however, did not grant the Asura a son
like Indra. And at this, the Asura was inflamed
with wrath against the Brahmana. And from that
day, O king, the Asura Ilwala became a destroyer of
Brahmanas. And endued with power of illusion the
angry Asura transformed his brother into a ram.
And Vatapi also capable of assuming any form at will,
would immediately assume the shape of a ram. And
the flesh of that ram, after being properly dressed,
was offered to Brahmanas as food. And after they
had eaten of it, they were slain. For whomsoever
Ilwala summoned with his voice, he would come back
to Ilwala even if he had gone to the abode of Yama,
in re-embodied form endued with life, and show himself
to Ilwala. And so having transformed the Asura
Vatapi into a ram and properly cooked his flesh and
feeding Brahmanas therewith, he would summon Vatapi.
And the mighty Asura Vatapi, that foe of Brahmanas,
endued with great strength and power of illusion,
hearing, O king, those sounds uttered with a loud voice
by Ilwala, and ripping open the flanks of the Brahmana
would come laughingly out, O lord of earth! And
it was thus, O monarch, that the wicked-hearted Daitya
Ilwala, having fed Brahmanas, frequently took away
their lives.

“’Meanwhile, the illustrious Agastya beheld
his deceased ancestors hanging in a pit with heads
downwards. And he asked those personages thus
suspended in that hole, saying, “What is the
matter with you?” Thus questioned those
utterers of Brahma replied, “It is even
for offspring.” And they also told him,
“We are your ancestors. It is even for
offspring that we stay suspended in this pit.
If, O Agastya, thou canst beget us a good son, we
may then be saved from this hell and thou also wilt
obtain thy blessed state of those having offspring.”
Endued with great energy and observant of truth and
morality Agastya replied, saying, “Ye Pitris,
I will accomplish your desire. Let this anxiety
of yours be dispelled.” And the illustrious